Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary in the U.S.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters in the U.S. earn a median of $76,870 a year ($36.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,290 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $81,280, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for electrical and electronics drafters in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,040 | $24.06 |
| 25th percentile | $61,430 | $29.53 |
| Median | $76,870 | $36.96 |
| 75th percentile | $96,730 | $46.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,290 | $57.83 |
| Average (mean) | $81,280 | $39.08 |
Half of electrical and electronics drafters earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,405.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,202.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,956.54 |
| Weekly | $1,478.27 |
| Hourly | $36.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Electrical and Electronics Drafters salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $102,070 | 220 |
| New Mexico | $101,330 | 390 |
| Massachusetts | $87,290 | 470 |
| North Carolina | $81,960 | 430 |
| Idaho | $81,590 | 100 |
| Ohio | $80,840 | 510 |
| Georgia | $80,620 | 470 |
| Texas | $80,620 | 1,840 |
| Indiana | $80,100 | 360 |
| Utah | $79,360 | 290 |
| Colorado | $79,300 | 750 |
| Kentucky | $79,050 | 80 |
| California | $78,310 | 2,730 |
| Oregon | $78,170 | 330 |
| New York | $77,830 | 850 |
| New Jersey | $77,600 | 240 |
| Minnesota | $77,330 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $77,180 | 340 |
| Missouri | $76,690 | 420 |
| South Carolina | $76,440 | 290 |
| Maryland | $75,680 | 380 |
| Wisconsin | $75,650 | 470 |
| Maine | $75,100 | 110 |
| Iowa | $74,470 | 180 |
| Michigan | $73,860 | 380 |
| Arizona | $73,080 | 570 |
| Florida | $73,010 | 660 |
| Pennsylvania | $72,720 | 500 |
| Washington | $72,250 | 390 |
| Nevada | $71,310 | 250 |
| Oklahoma | $69,520 | 290 |
| Illinois | $68,310 | 150 |
| Hawaii | $68,050 | 80 |
| Connecticut | $66,980 | 430 |
| Wyoming | $64,690 | 40 |
| Virginia | $64,650 | 280 |
| Delaware | $63,460 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $62,550 | 150 |
| Kansas | $60,730 | 210 |
| Nebraska | $59,570 | 190 |
| Mississippi | $58,780 | 110 |
| Puerto Rico | $56,480 | 180 |
| Alabama | $51,650 | 300 |
| South Dakota | $50,840 | 40 |
Best-paying metro areas for electrical and electronics drafters
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $115,530 | 480 |
| Boulder, CO | $103,910 | 40 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $102,810 | 160 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $100,420 | 100 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $100,090 | 30 |
| Anchorage, AK | $98,920 | 60 |
| Worcester, MA | $98,610 | 70 |
| Boise City, ID | $97,550 | 80 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $90,360 | 40 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $87,010 | 250 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $86,140 | 340 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $84,680 | 230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $84,680 | 290 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $84,090 | 220 |
| Columbus, OH | $83,700 | 120 |
Metro areas with the most electrical and electronics drafters
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 860 | $77,630 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 720 | $83,100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 580 | $77,830 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 560 | $79,530 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 480 | $68,710 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 480 | $115,530 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 460 | $79,160 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 340 | $86,140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 310 | $74,520 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 290 | $84,680 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 270 | $78,170 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 250 | $87,010 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 250 | $81,230 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 230 | $84,680 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 230 | $75,870 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Civil Drafters | $66,150 | $31.80 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $78,190 | $37.59 |
| Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Surveying and Mapping Technicians | $54,240 | $26.08 |
| Mechanical Drafter | $71,550 | $34.40 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| Calibration Technologists and Technicians | $67,820 | $32.61 |
| Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians | $73,900 | $35.53 |
| Drafters, All Other | $63,520 | $30.54 |
| Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $59,920 | $28.81 |
| Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians | $82,890 | $39.85 |
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-3012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical and electronics drafters make in the U.S.?
The median salary for electrical and electronics drafters in the U.S. is $76,870 a year, or $36.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $120,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid electrical and electronics drafters make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of electrical and electronics drafters in the U.S. earn at least $120,290 a year. The top 25% earn $96,730 or more.
What is the starting pay for electrical and electronics drafters in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,040 a year, and a quarter of electrical and electronics drafters earn $61,430 or less.
How many electrical and electronics drafters work in the U.S.?
About 17,920 electrical and electronics drafters are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.